Kochi: Two crew members of the Singapore-flagged container ship MV Wan Hai 503 are currently in intensive care after a fire broke out onboard three days ago off the coast of Kerala. The blaze, which began following a container explosion on June 9, continues to burn, posing serious risks to both the crew and the environment.

Dr. Dinesh Kadam from AJ Hospital, where the rescued crew members are being treated, said, “A Chinese national with 40% burns and an Indonesian national are in ICU and are being closely monitored. Their vitals are stable, though they require some more time in the ICU... All the other four are stable and one of them is being discharged, while the others will stay in the hospital as they have some impact and facial burns...”

Fire persists on inner decks

The Indian Coast Guard confirmed that while the outer fires on MV Wan Hai 503 have been largely brought under control, flames continue to rage in the ship’s inner decks, dangerously close to fuel tanks. This ongoing fire complicates containment efforts and increases the risk of an environmental disaster.

The container ship, carrying over 122,000 metric tonnes of fuel and hazardous materials, is drifting southeast about 42 nautical miles from Beypore, Kerala. The Indian Coast Guard is leading the firefighting operations with support from the Indian Air Force, Directorate General of Shipping, and other maritime agencies.

High-risk salvage operation underway: 

On Wednesday afternoon, a daring operation was carried out as an Indian Coast Guard helicopter winched five salvage team members and one aircrew diver onto the burning vessel. Their mission: to secure a towline that will help guide the ship to a safer location, away from the sensitive coastal waters.

Firefighting and salvage operations involve five Coast Guard ships, two Dornier aircraft, a helicopter, two support vessels, and salvage experts hired by the ship’s owners. Rough sea conditions are making these efforts more challenging, but authorities stress that containing the fire and towing the vessel away from the coast are top priorities.

Incident background and rescue efforts:

The fire began on June 9 following a container explosion about 44 nautical miles off Azhikkal in Kerala’s Kannur district, roughly 130 nautical miles northwest of Kochi. Eighteen crew members were rescued, while four remain missing.